Guys can you put a strong magnet on the bottom of the oil filter to remove metal shavings? i was wondering because i have seen these magnetic filter dealys in summit and my buddy has one and he cut one open after an oil change with the magnet and without the magnet and there was clearly shavings on the filter that had the magnet on it. i was just wondering if you are able to do this with out affecting any sensors and such? thanks

 

If you find metal shavings you need to tear the engine down to inspect

 

no no i was just wondering i do not have metal shavings. i just saw the filter that came out of the truck with no magnet and the filter that had the magnet and it was like night and day

 

i would just put a big magnet on the oil pan, would be easier and cheaper. i did that on the trans pan of my caprice to help the trans last a little longer cause they were known to not be the best in those cars...

 

I think I'd rather have it on the filter. Anything big enough to not go through the filter will settle to the bottom of the pan all by itself. Anything big enough to "not" settle out will continue to circulate in the fluid until something stops it. Shavings may not be a good description of the really small stuff. I'd call it more like something akin to very fine ferrous material debris.

 

yah if you put the magnet on the filter you can remove the fine metal sludge from the system when you change the filter. If you put it on the pan might just collect there and not all come out when draining.

I found this when i was getting a filter for my power steering return that Ace recommended. Might work better than magnets on the filter, but i still don't know if i'm convinced. Wonder how well bypass filters like the amsoil BK-11 work to remove the same small metal debris....

http://www.emergingent.com/magnefine/force_field.htm

 

It's cheap insurance. I've always wanted to do it to a filter, or stick one on the pan but have never got around to it.

 

I'm running FilterMags on the outside of the oil filter and the 2 micron fuel filter. They use strong Neodymium Iron Borite rare earth magnets...the strongest grade available that's able to withstand 225° F+ temperatures (maybe N45? don't remember now off the top of my head).

I wondered if they did anything, and cut open a filter to find out.









The metal seen is far too fine to feel, but I was quite surprised at what these magnets were able to remove. I feel it's a worthwhile product for those wishing to do all they can to extend longevity.

--Eric

 

good info nice pics that was what i was looking for

 

Oil filters work with the oil flowing from the outside, inward then into the engine. Any particles you can see, should not pass through the filter media. Particles trapped on the inside of the can, only make to feel good, but do very little in the way of "wear prevention" Silica, metal make up of dirt (oil analysis) usually enters the engine through oil top-ups and oil changes. Nice gimmick!

 

oh i see it is just one of those things they want you to buy to make money no real benefit gotcha

 

You may not see any "one" particle. But a few thousand ferrous particles less than the nominal micron rating of the filter certainly will pass through the filter, will look like black slime taken together wherever they accumulate, and will continue to circulate in the fluid unless they are removed. This is normally accomplished with oil changes.

Or by magnets on a continous, running basis. OBTW, "any" sized particle stuck on the inside surface of the filter can is aslo subsequently not contributing to clogging the filter. Just thought I'd mention that.

How'd you get to be a "lube manager" and not know this? Let me guess: because your company profits from selling oil, related petroleum products or oil change services?

Hmmm, interesting gimmick: lying to customers in order to sell more products and/or services. Never heard that one before! Maybe that's too harsh. How about "unwittingly spreading disinformation?"

 

15 years in the oil anaysis business and 9 years consulting to improve the lubricant handling process, not to mention involvment in multiple oil company test programs, let alone the formal education required, most likely, you would think, would allow me to make that kind of comment. Visual gimmicks have been around for a long time, normally the only benefit is to seperate fools from their money. (not suggesting this a disinformation) Other then "slagging" someone, please tell us how you are qualified to offer your opinion. I do have test data to support my thoughts/opinion. How about you?
If you THINK it has value, good for you. I do not use one, nor would I.
Most full flow oil filters, are in the 25um nominal range, and do very little then trap the crap shown in the pictures. (Particles on the can are upstream from the filter element) Put the magnet, if you think it has value, after the element. If you think it makes the filter last longer, change the filter more often. (less expensive long term -my opinion) (how much for the magnet? how much is the filter? - you do the math) or better yet, filter all of your new oil as you insert through closed fittings, it into the engine.
A human, will not see particles unless they are over 40 um in size. If you see the particles, whether on the inside of the can, or in the pleats of the media, the media should stop them. Normal wear generated particle are less then 15um in size, severe wear mode size particles are over 15um. If you see wear generated particle, with un-aided human eye, you are in deep Ka'Ka. Most particles you can see, when you change oil came from poor lube handling practices, or through the air breather (bad news). The black sludge, in most cases, is combustion by-product, which with a proper oil additive package, should not be over 1um, in size, which will pass through any filter and is not magnetic. I feel an opinion not based on facts is not worth sharing.
Hmm if it looks like poop and smells like poop, know matter how it is stated, the chances that it might be poop are pretty high. My thought is: it is up to everyone, themselves, to decide as to whether they want to step in it! (why I think these forums are helpful)
With the ecomony the way it is, the sad reality is every one, will have to question every product/claim presented to them, for there will be alot more "stuff" offered.

 

Maybe I missed that part, how does the 25um filter trap those again?
Ah yes, just as I suspected:
You might find the BITOG people more interested in your theories.

OBTW I forgot, good bypass filters rated down into the single-digit micron range are also effective at cleaning this stuff out of the oil while in service as well. Certainly more so than the magnets. Possibly a good reason to try getting the most out of your equipment and maintenance investments? Spend money on more frequent oil changes? As was said, you gotta decide for yourself...

 

Thanks for posting, but I am aware of that. However, these pictures are actually of a FUEL filter. The magnets were placed on the outside of a 2-micron fleetguard, so the fuel hadn't been filtered yet by THIS filter.

However, the fuel HAD already gone through a 20 micron filter, a water separator, and a 7 micron fleetguard filter in the factory canister!!!!

So, these magnets were able to catch contaminants that the previous filters were not able to get rid of! Furthermore, this fluid had NOT been recirculated many hundreds of times as oil would have, making it much easier to catch the particles. That says to me, that the product is worth having...

Moreover, these metal particles caught by the magnets had already been filtered to 7 microns. Full flow oil filters only filter to the 20 - 25 micron level if I remember correctly. Therefore, it would be reasonable to assume if this had been on the oil filter, it would have caught even more...

Keep in mind, these are not your average, everyday hobby shop or refrigerator magnets. You could probably break bones in your hand if you weren't careful with some of the NIB rare earth magnets.

Then again, this was only my real life experiment. I didn't really care if the product worked or not, I was just satisfying my own curiousity. Your results may vary!